Can-draining machine.



S. PITTALUGA. CAN DRAINING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. I916-Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

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S. PITTALUGA.

CAN DRAINING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1uLY'20. I916.

Patented Jan. 22,1918. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. w

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

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S. PITTALUGA. CAN umumwe mums.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. I916. Patented Jan 22,

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[re den/Zak A9. Pia/h lz ga STEFANO PITTALUGA, 015 LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA.

CAN-DRAINING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jam, 22, iltllila Applicationfiled July 20, 1916. Serial No. 110,415.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEFANO PrrrALUeA, a subject of the King of Italy,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful 'Can-Draining Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention may be employed for various purposes, but moreparticularly relates to means to be employed in connection with thefruit canning industry. It is customary in canning fruits to wash thefruit and place it in cans or other suitable containers which are thenfilled with syrup, then heated and then hermetically sealed.

In order that the fruit thus put up shall be in most perfect conditionfor keeping and for consumption,- it is desirable that the liquidadhering to the surface of the fruit be thoroughly drained oil beforethe syrup is applied to the can; and an object of this invention is toprovide means whereby such liquid can be perfectly drained on, thusleaving the can and the fruit contained therein ready. to be entirelycharged with syrup, so that the quality of the syrup filling for eachcan will be uniform and the syrup filling will not be diluted withforeign liquid.

The invention is regarded as pioneer and broadly new in that mechanicalmeans are provided whereby the filled fruit cans are inverted and soheld for a time sufficient to accomplish the purpose above suggested.

A broad feature of the invention consists in a rotary device providedwith means for holding the can or other container that is closed, exceptat one end or side, with the opening of said container presented awayfrom the axis of rotation, and means for V rotating the device so as todrain the liquid contents from the container; and in carrying out theinvention I preferably arrange the rotary device with its axis ofrotation horizontally disposed, so that as the containerrevolvesjarou'nd said axis the force of gravity will operate to effectthe drainin %'his invention comprises a draining machine for operationin connection with a moving train of open topped containers such as cansor bottles and the like, wherein the containers are successivelydelivered to and held upon a drumrotating on a practically horizontalaxis so that the containers are carried around with said drum, thusturning each container upside down to drain some or all of thecontentstherefrom during the course of travel of the containers. v1s1on is alsomade whereby the containers are discharged from the rotary device afterthe'draining has been effected.

The invention may be utilized for drain- Pro-' ing a train of containersimmediately after washing the same, but is more especially adaptedfor.draining containers after they have been washed and packed withwashed and rinsed fruit or the like preparatory to filling thecontainers'with syrup in which the fruit is to be sealed up.

The machine comprises in combination, a rotatable device, which may betermed a drum, adapted to support the bottoms ofthe containers, andperforated cover members that are adapted to seat on the tops of theopen containers after the same have beendelivered to the drum; saidcover members serving to hold the solid contents of the containers inplace while allowing the foreign thereof and out *of alinement with eachother; the arrangement being such that the containers successivelyapproach and move onto said drum at one side, revolve around,

and shift along the axis thereof, and move 0% of said drum and leave itat the other s1 e.

Another object is to provide a feeding arrangement whereby thecontainers are automatically fed to the rotatable drum.

A feature of the invention is the adaptability of the machine forhandling cans of different sizes, the feeding arrangement be ing subjectto adjustment for this purpose.

The invention comprises means for receiving uprightopenftoppedcontainers, means for delivering containers to the receivingmeans. means to retain solid contents in and to allow liquid contents toflow out of the container, means to tilt the container to liltl Mil atthe other side of said drain liquid contents from said container, and torestore the container to upright pos1- tion, and means to remove theupright container from the tilting and restoring means.

Other important features and advantages of the invention may appear fromthe subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan viewof a dralning machine embodying this inventionand applled to operate upon a moving train of containers on the way to asyrup filling..mach1ne, a fragment of which is shown. Containers areshown as they enter the machine, the first container of the train beingin position preparatory to riding out upon the discharge conveyer.Structural parts are broken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing parts 111 a slightly advanced positionfrom that of Flg. 1 with containers in position as they enter and leavethe machine. A container is shown as held in check preparatory to movinginto the drum pocket that is just being vacated by the dischargingcontainer. Parts are broken away and shown in section for clearness ofillustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional elevation viewed from irregular lineat, Figs. 1 and 4 with the lower portion of the draining trough brokenaway. Parts are in position corresponding to Fig. 1 with the containersupon the drum indicated by dot and dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental axial section on line to, Figs. 1, 3 and 7, withparts in position corresponding to Figs. 1 and 3. Parts are broken awayto illustrate ,parts otherwise hidden.

Fig. 5 is a top view of one of the cover members detached, omitting theoperating rollers. v

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line m, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation on a somewhatv smaller 'scale than thepreceding figures showing parts in a position approximatelycorresponding to that of Fig. 2 with the feeding arrangement just aboutto deliver a container to the rotary drum. A portion of the drainingchute is broken away to illustrate the draining action of a container.

Feathered arrows on the various views indicate the direction of movementof the containers and small arrows on the various section Iinesindicatethe direction of sight.

conveyer 2 mounted at one side of said drum to deliver containers 3thereto, means to cause the containers to revolve with the drum and adischarge conveyer 4 mounted drum to carry the containers therefromafter said containers have moved around with the drum, each containerbeing thus inverted for dralnage purposes during one revolution of thedrum.

Said delivery and discharge conveyers 2 and 4 may be of any desirableform and in the present instance comprise conveyer belts 5 and 6respectively, running parallel to the plane of rotation of the drum.Conveyer belt 5 runs over a. head pulley 7 and conveyer belt 6 runs overa tail pulley 8, said pulleys being positioned upon opposite sides ofthe drum 1 and in close proximity thereto so that the delivery conveyerbelt 5 operates upon one side of the drum and the dis chargeconveyer'belt 6 operates upon the other side of the drum. The drum 1 andpulleys 7, 8 are approximately of the same diameter, being carried by ahorizontal shaft 9 that is journaled in bearings 10 positioned upon sideangle-iron members 11 of a frame that is suitably supported adjacent tothe frame 12 of a syrup filling machine to which machine the containersare conveyed after assing around said drum.- The side memers 11 aresupported at one end by side hangers 13 that depend from a cross-piece14 of the machine frame 12 and at the other end by across angle-iron 15that is secured to a table 16 having supporting legs 17.

An upright standard 18 is carried by the table and upon said standard ismounted a conveyer board 19 that serves as a support for the deliveryconveyer belt 5. The discharge conveyer belt 6 is supported by aconveyer board 20 which is carried by horizontal arms 2] and 22 that areformedrespectively by lateral extensions of the adjacent upright hanger13 and a leg 23 of the supporting frame.

The boards 19, 20 and the conveyers are tangentially arranged relativeto the produced periphery of the drum at the top thereof.

The drum 1 and delivery 7 are keyed to the shaft 9 and are driven by apulley 24 fixed to the overhanging shaft end, said pulley 24 beingdriven from the operating shaft 25 of the syrup-filling machine throughbelt 26 and drive pulley 27. The tail pulley 8 of the discharge conveyeris loosely mounted upon theshaft 9 and said conveyer is driven from ahead pulley 28 on the operating shaft 25, the pulley 28 being made of asomewhat larger diameter than the drive pulley 27 so that the dischargeconveyer may travel at a slightly greater speed than the peripheralspeed of the drum, thereby lnsuring against any blockinf of r and ontothe discharge conveyer.

The containers are adapted to be transferred onto .and off of the drumat the top thereof, being moved axially of the drum from the deliveryconveyer at one side and, after moving around in a clock-wise directionconveyer pulley I a sufiicient height so that the sides of the up-,

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(in Figs. 3 and 7) for one revolution of the drum, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3and 7), are moved axially of the drum and onto the discharge conveyer atthe opposite side. To this end a delivery guide-mouth is positioned justforwardly of the vertical axial plane of the drum to act in conjunctionwith the delivery conveyer belt 5, and a discharge guidemouth ispositioned just rearwardly of said plane to act in conjunction with thedelivery conveyor belt 6; the arrangement bemg such that a container ismoved from the delivery conveyer 2 at one side and guided into the spaceupon the drum that has just been vacated by a container moving from thedrum and onto the discharge conveyer 4 at the other side.

Side rails or guides 29 and 30 are mounted upon the delivery conveyerboard 19 to form a'guide-way in which the upright containers are movedto the drum by the conveyer belt 5, said ides terminating in outer andinner curve extensions 29", 30- respectively, that turn togetherin anaxial direction toward the drum to form the curving guidemouth throughwhich the containers pass to the drum from the belt 5.

Side rails or guides 31 and 32 are mounted, one upon each side of thedischarge conveyer board 20, on the lateral arms 21 and 22 to form aguide-way in which the containers are conveyed from the drum by theconveyer belt 6, said guides terminating respectively in outer and innercurved extensions 31, 32' that turn together in an axial directiontoward the drum to form the curving guide-mouth, through which thecontainers are adapted to discharge from the drum to the belt 6. Theinside extension 32 as well as rail '32 are both carried by upright lips34 of the lateral arms 21, 22, re-

spectively and the opposite inside extension 30 is supported from theconveyer board 19 by a clip 35, see Fig. 1.

The outer extension 29' of the delivery mouth is supported at one endupon the conveyer board 19 bya clip 36,'and extends aslant over thepulley 7 in the direction oi rotation thereof, said extension followingthe pulley periphery and'being bent at the edge of the drum to formatrans'verse spanning portion 37, the end of which portion is secured tothe cross-piece 14 by a bolt 38. The outer extension 31 of the dischargemouth is supported adjacent thedrum by a hanger 39 carried by an archedsupporting bar 40 that circles around over the rotary drum and itsoperating parts, said "arched bar having one end secured to thecross-piece 14 by a bolt 41 and the other end secured to the crossangle-iron 15 by a bolt 42'. v

j The guide extensions are all positioned at right containers willcontact with said extensions well above their bases and thus pre venttipping of the containers as they are deflected by the various guidesfrom a straight course upon'delivery to and discharge from the drum.Said inside extensions 30 and 32 project from opposite sides into therotary path of travel of the containers, extending to almost themid-transverse plane of the drum to thus form a mid-gap 43 which allowsclearance for drum parts during rotation of the same.

At the back of the inner extension 30' of the delivery mouth .is abuilt-out portion to constitute a guide edge 44, of concave form andcurving from the guide 30 toward the discharge conveyer. This guide edge44 projects into the path of the containers and serves to impart theinitial axial shifting movement to successively transfer the containersfrom the drum as the containers ride up from the left hand side in Figs.1, 2, 3 and 7. The guide edge 44 forms a continuation of the extension32 positioned upon the opposite side of the gap 43, said extension andguide edge serving as an aslant abutment that extends across the path ofrotation of the containers to thereby shift the same off of the drum andonto the discharge conveyer.

The approaching containers on the delivery conveyer belt 5 aresuccessively guided from their straight line path upon contacting withthe curved outer guide 29 and thus shifted from the conveyer belt 5 overonto the drum periphery and into pockets a, formed between standards 45that are spaced at equal intervals around the drum in the mid-circularplane thereof. Said standards 45 are of a Y-form having aslant limbs 46that are provided with tapped sockets in their extremities to receivestuds 47 which pass through and secure connecting bridge pieces 48 inplace upon the said limb extremities. The standards, in the instanceshown, are detachably mounted upon the drum rim 49, having stud ends 50that screw into tapped holes 51 in said rim for this purpose and whenthe standards are mounted in position upon said drum rim the limbs 46 ofadjacent standards are in parallelism with one another to thusconstitute the parallel-sided pockets a to receive the containers.

Suitable means revolving with the drum are provided to hold thecontainers in place upon the drum and the solid contents within thecontainers during inversion of said con tainerswhen the drum is rotatedfor drainage purposes. Said draining means in the present embodimentconsists of a plurality of equally spaced perforated cover membersmounted on the encircling standards 45, each cover member being adaptedto span the pocket a formed between the parallel limbs 46 of adjacent Ystandards and being adapted to yieldingly seat over the top of an opencontainer 3 upon delivery of said container to the drum, to thus holdthe solid contents in place in the container while allowing the rinsingliquid to drain out through the perforated cover members as the drum isrotated.

Said cover members are preferably circular in shape, and each isprovided with a series of perforations 53 that extend over an areacorresponding substantially to the cross sectional area of the circularcontainer over which said cover member i adapted to seat. Atdiametrically opposite sides of each cover member are provided upturnedlips 54 that carry studs, 55 upon which are rotatably mounted rollers56, said rollers being positioned inwardly of the lips and just abovethe upper surface of the cover. Lateral lip extensions 57 are alsoformed at diametri cally opposite sides of each cover member, said lipextensions being arranged equidistant between the upturned lips 54 andprovided with bores 58 to receive depending stems 59 that are secured bylock-nuts 60. The stems of each cover member are thus oppositelyarranged and are slidably mounted in each pair of adjacent bridge pieces48 with the connected cover member 52 positioned over the interveningpocket a. Each stem 59 is provided with end shoulders 61 against which acompression spring 62 im pinges, said spring being mounted upon the stemand having its other end bearing against the respective bridge piece 48,thus tending to normally hold the cover member in retracted position tobear downupon the top of the open container.

The cover members are each adapted to be retracted to yieldingly seatupon the open top of a container after said container has been insertedthereunder upon the drum and to be extended in opposition to the springs62 to unseat from the top of a container preparatory to discharging thesame and receiving another, and means are provided to automaticallyactuate said cover members which means comprises a stationary cam ortrack 63 supported at the top of the machine and adapted to co-act witheach cover member once during each revolutionof the drum.

Said track is preferably of a bifurcated form consisting of two limbs b,c that are spaced apart centrally of the drum, one upon each side of themid-transverse plane thereof, said limbs being supported by clips 64bolted to the overhead arched bar 40 and lying'in the path of the spacedapart rollers 56 of the respective cover members. The limbs b, 0 are ofthe same extent and curvature, being eccentric to the axis of the drumand serve to co-act with saidrollers to retract and extend the covermembers in time with the delivery and discharge of the containers. Saidtrack deviates from the axis of the drum in an eccentric path so thatthe middle portion is at a greater distance from the drum axis than theextremities '65 and 66.

The rollers 56 of each cover member are adapted to successively rideover the track 63 during each revolutionof the drum, thus to lift therespective cover member during this travel and hold the same in anextended position while the drained container thereunder is shifted out,onto the discharge belt 6 and an undrained container is delivered in itsplace from thedelivery belt 5.

Said track 63 projects upon that side of the vertical axial drum planefrom which the containers approach, a sufficient distance to permit eachpair of approaching rollers 56 to engage the track just beforethe container under the respective cover member opposite side, from the middleportion to the tip 66, is of a more abrupt change of curvature tofacilitate a somewhat quicker reseating action of the cover members asthe rollers pass over said opposite side.

By this comparatively quick reseating action any possible spilling ofthe solid contents of theretained containers upon tipping as they startdownward toward the right hand side in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 is avoided.

A horizontal bar 67 in the present instance forming a continuation ofthe upright hanger 39, is carried at its free end upon the lateralconveyer board support 22, said bar being positioned between the drum 1and pulley 8 and lying slightly below the level of the top of the drumperiphery, so that the containers may readily pass over said bar andonto the discharge conveyer. The pulley 8 is of a slightly less diameterthan the drum 1, and a carrier plate 68 is mounted upon the horizontalbar 67 by countersunk screws 69, the curvature of said platecorresponding to and being alined with the drum periphery. A lip 70 ofthe carrier plate overhangs the belt 6 which has a slight upward inclinefrom the pulley 8 to the conveyer board 20, the purpose of this liparnaeaaee the drum in step with the rotating drum pockets, and thusprevent any jamming or marrin of the containers. To t is end theapproaching containers on conveyer 5 are intermittently delivered to thedrum, each container being momentarily held in check by appropriatemeans until a vacant pocket (1 and its spanning cover member 52 are inposition to receive said container. 7

Said feeding arrangement comprises a rotatable star-wheel 71 positionedadjacent the delivery uideway or mouth and having teeth 72 wlth concavefaces 7 2' therebetween, said faces conforming substantially to theperiphery of the containers. The star-wheel is arranged so that theteeth 72 will extend over the guide 29' and into the path of travel ofthe approaching upright containers, which are successively receivedbetween adjacent teeth 72 as said containers move from the conveyer belt5 to the drum periphery to thus rotate the star-wheel. The starwheel 71is mounted on a vertical axle 74 supported in a carrier 75 that isadjustably secured by means of a slot 76 and stud 77 to the supportingbar 78 which spans over to the cross-piece 14- from the deliveryconveyer board 19. The slot and stud arrangement serves to pivotally andslidably mount the star-wheel to be adjusted back and forth as desired,so that the'teeth 72 may project over into the path of travel of thecontainers for a greater or less distance depending through the machine.a

An upright latch rod 79 is slidably mounted in a lateral projection 80of the support 81, said latch rod having a tip 82 that is adapted toalternately extend into and out of the path of the star-wheel teeth 72as said sprocket is turned by the passing containers, thus causin tivemovement of t e star-wheel to intermittently deliver said containers instep with the rotating drum pockets at.

With a tooth 72 in contact with the latch rod tip 82, as in Fig. 2, thestar-wheel is locked against fu rther clock-wise rotation and in thisposition the container between the overhanging teeth 72 is carried bythe running belt 5 over against the guide'nose 73 of the guide extension30, which nose together with the forwardly engaging starwheel tooth 72serves to hold the container in check under the moving conveyer belt 5until a pocket at has advanced a requlsite rotary distance to receivesaid checked container, whereupon the latch is raised and the star-wheelis then free to turn and allow the container to pass along into saidpocket.

Means to alternately raise and lower the latch rod to produce thisintermittent drpm delivery are provided, said means be ng ea timed withand operated by the revolving upon the size of the containers being runan intermittent rotadrum. and comprising a rock arm 83 formed on arock-shaft 84 that is journaled at 85, 85' in a frame which in thepresent instance consists of an upright limb 86 extending from thestandard 81 and a horizontal limb 87 extending over to and being securedupon the arched bar 40 by a stud 88. Said-standard 81 is supported bylegs 89 secured upon the spanning bar7 8 by screws 90. The rock arm 83is pivoted to the upper extremity of the latch rod79 and is adapted toactuate the same as the axle 84: is rocked back and forth. To rock saidaxle in proper time an operating arm 91 is adjustably secured to theaxle by a set, screw 92, said arm being positioned above the track limbb and extending toward its tip 66. The operating arm thus lies in thepath of the rollers 56 and has an end portion 93 normally bearing uponthe limb I) (see Figs. 1 and 3), in which position the latch tip 82extends into the path of the star-wheel teeth in position to engage witha tooth 72 to thus hold the oncoming container in check preparatory toinserting the same into the approaching 90 empty pocket a, (see Fig. 7).Said arm 91 is raised as a roller 56 rolls over the track 63 and underthe arm portion 93 to thus turn the rock shaft 84 and raise said latchtip from in front of the engaging tooth 72 to 95 free the container.

Each container is held in check for a short interval corresponding tothe interval that it takes a standard 45 to pass by said container, thusinsuring against interference and possible jamming of the containers bythe revolving standards. The arrangement is such that a roller 56, ofthe cover member preceding the one under which the container is to beinserted, actuates the arm 91 and raises the latch tip 82 to release thesprocket 71 and free said container for movement into the empty pockets(1. 7

In ractlcal operation the containers tobe drained approach the drum 1 onconveyer 11c belt 5 and are successively fed through the delivery guidemouth and into the pockets a of the rotating drum, said containerspassing onto the drum just forwardly of the vertical axial plane ofthedrum, at which position the cover members of the respective pocketsare extended to receive the containers by the rollers 56 riding upon thetrack 63 as hereinbefore described. The perforated cover members 52 areseated upon the respective open container tops by the rollers 56 rolling0d of the track 63 upon further rotation of the drum, thus to hold thecontainers in place during inversion of the same and thereby allow therinsing liquid to drain 06 through the perforated cover members as thedrum turns around, see Fig.- 7.

Said containers are retained upon the drum for one revolution and uponriding up from the left hand side in F igs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 to a positionjust rearwardly of the vertical axial plane of the drum the respectivecover this extended position during the travel of said rollers over thetrack 63 or while the underneath container engages with the guide edge44 to ride from the respective poclmt a and another container rides intosaid pocket.

The standard 45 at the rear of each container serves to push it in anaslant direction along the guide edge 44 and guide extension 32 andthrough the discharge guide mouth to be pickedup by the dischargec0nveyer belt 6. After said standard has thus discharged the containerit moves on through the gap 43 between the guide extensions 30, 32 andthe'vacated pocket at, forwardly ofsaid standard, then comes intoregister with .the delivery guide mouth to receive another containerfrom the delivery conveyer belt 5 at which time a container is releasedby the feeding sprocket 71 as hereinbefore described.

The rotatable drum thus continues to successively receive containersfrom the conveyer belt 5, carry them around therewith and thensuccessively discharge them onto the conveyer belt 6.

A suitable drainage trough 94 is preferably mounted under the drum 1 tocatch the drainings, said trough being-provided with an outlet pipe 95,see Fig. 7, which serves to carry off the draining water as it runs fromthecontainers. The trough is open at the top, being made in the presentinstance of sheet metal to form a circular bottom 915r-and inclosingsides 97, the bottom .96 terminating at its ends in flanges 98 and .99,tosupport said trough from the machine frame, see Fig. 3. Flange 98 issecured by rivets d to the cross-piece 100 that is carried by the sidehangers 13 for this purpose and flange 99 is secured by rivets e to thecross angle-iron 15. The trough is thus supported under the drum so thatthe containersmay dip down into the trough upon their travel around withthe drum and thus avoid any splashing of the drainings.

It is thus seen that the container holding means comprise the surface ofthe drum 1,

the cover members 52 and their connections and adjuncts 59, 58 and 62which are attachments of the drum; that the delivery conveyer 2 and thedeflecting guides 29', 30 constitute means to deliver upright opentoppedcontainers to the container-receiving means; that the rotating shaft 9operating through the drum and its attachments consti:

tutes means for tilting the containers from and returning them toupright position; that the perforated cover members 52, the springs 62and stems 69 serve to retain the solid contents of the containers and toallow liquid to drain therefrom; that said shaft and its connectionsalso serve to return the containers to upright position and that theguides 44, 31 and 31 serve" to remove containers from the tilting anddraining mechanism to- 1. A draining machine for containers comprising adrum rotatable on a horizontal axis and means for conveying containersto, 7

around with, and from said drum for the purpose specified; said meanscomprising a drainage cover adapted to retain the solid contents of thecontainer in the container when inverted.

2. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, means forautomaticallyfeeding containers to said drum,means to hold the containers and solid contents in place as the same areinverted and drained during rotation of the drum, and means forconveying the containers from the drum. 4

3. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, a delivery conveyer mounted at one side of said drumand adapted to deliver containers thereto, means to hold the containersand solid contents in place as the same are inverted and drained duringrotation of the drum, and. a discharge conveyer mounted at the otherside of said drum and adapted to carry the containers therefrom.

1. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, a delivery conveyer mounted at one side of said drumand adapted to deliver containers thereto, means to hold the containersand solid contents in place as the same are inverted and drained duringrotation-of the drum, a drainage trough mounted below said drum to catchand carry away the drainings, and a discharge conveyer mounted at theother side of said drum and adapted to carry the containers therefrom.

5. The combination ofa drum rotatable on a horizontal ax1s for dralnlngcontainers;

a delivery conveyer mounted at one side of meaaee onto the dischargeconveyer; and drainage covers revolving with the drum to retain thesolid contents of the container while inverted. I

6. The combination of a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis for drainingcontainers,

a delivery conveyer mounted at one side of thereof, the containers beingcarried around with the drum to thus invert and drain said containers,mean to retain solid contents of the containers when inverted, adischarge conveyer mounted at the other side of said drum and on a levelwith the top thereof, and means to guide the containers 0d of the drumrearwardly of the vertical axial plane thereof after revolving with saiddrum for one revolution.

8. The combination of' a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis fordraining containers, standards equally spaced around said drum to form aplurality of encircling-pockets, means to automatically feed containersto said pockets, mean to hold the containers and solid contents in placeas the same are inverted and drained during rotation of the drum, andmeans to automatically discharge containers from said pockets.

9. The combination of a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis for drainingcontainers,

a delivery conveyer mounted at one side of said drum, means actuated byrotation of the drum to feed containers from said delivery conveyer tothe drum, means to hold the containersv and solid contents in place asthe same are inverted and drained during rotation of the drum, and meansfor discharging and conveying-the containers from the drum.

rotatable on a horizontal axis, means for conveying open-toppedcontainers to said drum, a plurality of perforated cover membersarranged around said drum and adapted to seat over the tops of thecontainers, said perforated cover members serving to hold the solidcontents in place in the containers While allowing the rinsing liquid todrain off as the drum is rotated, means for conveying the containersfrom the drum, and means to automatically seat and unseat the covermembers upon respective delivery to and discharge from saiddrum.

12. draining machine for containers comprlsing a drum, rotatable on ahorizontal axis, standards equally spaced around said drum to form apluralityof encircling pockets, a delivery conveyer mounted at one sideof said drum and adapted to deliver containers to said pockets,perforated cover members adapted to span said pockets to yieldm'gly holdthe containers in place upon the drum and drain said containers in theirtravel around With the drum, and a discharge conveyer mounted at theother side of said drum and adapted to carry the containers therefrom.

13. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, standards equally spaced around said drum to form aplurality of encircling pockets, adelivery conveyer mounted at one sideof said drum and adapted to deliver containers to said pockets,perforated cover members adapted to spansaid pockets to yieldingly holdthe containers in place upon the drum and drain said containers in theirtravel around With the drum, a discharge conveyer mounted at the otherside of said drum and adapted to carry the containers therefrom,andmeans to automatically seat and unseat the cover members uponrespective' delivery to and discharge from said drum. 7

14:. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, standards equally spaced around said drum to form aplurality of encircling pockets, a delivery conveyer mounted at one sideof said drum and adapted to deliver containers to said pockets, covermembers yieldingly mounted to span said pockets and hold the containersin place upon the drum during their travel around with the drum, astationary track positioned above the rotatable drum, said track beingadapted to co-act with said cover members to automatically travel aroundwith the drum, spring means to normally hold said cover members inretracted position upon the tops of the respective containers afterdelivery of the same to the drum, a stationary track adapted to coactwith said cover members to extend the same in opposition to said'springmeans before discharge of the containers from the drum, and means fordischarging and conveying the containers from the drum.

16. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, means for feeding containers to said drum, a pluralityof cover members arranged around said drum and adapted to hold thecontainers in place during their travel around with the drum, springmeans to normally hold said cover members in retracted position upon thetops of the respective containers after delivery of the same to thedrum, an eccentric stationary track positioned above the rotatable drum,rollers mounted on the respective cover members and adapted to roll ontosaid track to thus extend the cover members in opposition to said springmeans before discharge of the containers from the drum, and means fordischarging and conveying the containers from the drum.

17. A draining machine for containers comprising a drum rotatable on ahorizontal axis, standards equally spaced around said drum to form aplurality of encircling pockets, a delivery conveyer mounted at one sideof said drum, a guideway to guide the containers from said deliveryconveyer and into the pockets, draining covers revolving'with the drumto hold the containers and solid contents in place when inverted, astarwheel mounted adjacent the guideway and having teeth extending intothe path of travel of the containers to thereby turn said tainers intime with the rotating drum pockets and means for discharging andconveying the containers from the pockets 18. A draining machine forcontainers comprising a drum, rotatable on a horizontal axis, standardsequally spaced around said drum to form a plurality of encirclingpockets, draining covers revolving with the drum to hold the containersand solid contents in place when the containers are inverted, a deliveryconveyer mounted at one side of said drum, a guideway to guide thecontainers from said delivery conveyer and into the pockets, astar-Wheel mounted adjacent the guideway and having teeth extending intothe path of travel of the containers to thereby turn said star-Wheel, alatch actuated by rotation of the drum to alternately extend into andout of the path of said star-wheel teeth to cause an intermittentrotative movement of the star-wheel and thus momentarily check eachcontainer until the respective pocket is in position to receive saidcontainer, andmeans for discharging and conveying the containers. fromthe pockets.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 15th day of July, 1916.

STEFANO PITTALUGA.

' Witnesses:

J AMES R. TOWNSEND, WILLIAM N. KIRKBY.

